Why Proper Alignment Is Important for Your Tires
Tires are one of the most critical components of a car. A car’s tires carry its weight. Wheels can become misaligned over time. From normal wear to minor accidents, there are several causes of wheel misalignment.
Wheel Alignment Explained
Wheel alignment has got less to do with your car’s wheel and more to do with the vehicle’s suspension system. Your car’s wheels are connected to the frame or body of the vehicle through the suspension system, which consists of a number of mechanical components. These components can bend or shift over time. When this happens, one or more tires are unable to travel straight.
Misaligned wheels can cause serious problems, dragging down the performance of the vehicle. Drivers must make keeping their wheel alignment in check a priority. Though mechanics recommend having wheels aligned every 2-3 years, you might need a tire alignment sooner, if:
- You regularly drive on poorly maintained roads
- Your car has wider tires
- You have had new tires installed
- You recently hit a pothole or curb
Importance of Regular Wheel Alignment
Here are some reasons to have your tires aligned regularly:
Increases the Service Life of Your Tires
Misalignment can cause your tires to wear out prematurely and unevenly. If you ignore the problem for too long, you may have to get new wheels sooner than normal.
Three different types of uneven or premature tire wear are – feathering (characterized by a worn tread on one side and a sharp tread on the other), heel and toe wear (one side of the tire tread seems to be wearing down faster than the other), and camber wear (inside or outside edge of the affected tire looks more worn than the center of the tread).
With proper alignment, your tires will last longer, and you will save a ton of money in the long run.
Improves Ride Quality and Safety
When the tires of a vehicle are out of alignment, it tends to pull to the left or right. If your car’s wheels are misaligned, you can experience difficulties controlling and steering it. This increases your chances of getting into an accident. Wheel misalignment can also have a negative impact on the ride quality of your vehicle.
Increases Fuel Efficiency
Misalignment can reduce a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. Misaligned tires are unable to grip the road properly. Instead of rolling freely, they drag. With misaligned tires, you will have to make more frequent visits to the gas station. Regular alignments can save you both time and money.
Our team at Grand Prix Performance has a solution to every car problem. We offer custom wheels in Orange County.Whether you drive a luxurious sedan or own a sporty hatchback, we will come up with a solution that checks all the right boxes. To make an appointment, call 949-645-7022.